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Acoustic Insights
The Top 5 Reasons Your Workspace Needs Better Acoustics
A major contributor to workplace productivity is the level of noise. Chatty coworkers, ringing phones, and background noise in an office cause serious distractions to the flow of work. This leads to less focus and concentration for your employees. Without an efficient noise control system in place, sounds bounce around your workplace; echoing and creating ambient noise. Which is far from optimal for a working environment. There is a way to reduce unwanted noise in the workplace – adding acoustic panels. Acoustic panels are an innovative way to control the noise of a room while enhancing the style of your space. Improving the acoustics of an area will encourage productivity and focus among your staff. Good acoustics results in fewer distractions and a more pleasant work environment. This article will discuss what acoustic panels are, and the top 5 benefits of installing them in your workplace. 5 Reasons to Install Acoustic Panels Create pleasant environments for productive work Improve the Look of Your Office Transform your Conference Room Impress Clients and Customers Get Acoustic Panels Designed Specifically for your Workspace 1. Create a More Pleasant Work Environment with Acoustic Panels How often do you find yourself distracted at work, or see the inevitably not-so-subtle ‘my headphones on’ signal from a colleague? Open-floor designs are common in the workspace of today. Visually, these designs embrace natural light and a huge sense of space, working to boost energy levels and foster a collaborative work environment. And yet open-plan offices are a double edged sword in terms of acoustics: the sheer amount of open space offers virtually nothing in the way of controlling the sound inherently generated within any functioning work environment. Noise from anywhere, is suddenly everywhere! The whirring of fans, meetings, chatting or laughter, loud footsteps, and computers are all part and parcel — but If not dealt with, sound accumulates to a frustrating level, causing stress, impacting productivity and has a real effect on staff happiness. The solution: manage your Acoustics! Strategic and subtle placement of wall panels, ceiling panels, or acoustic ceiling tiles not only stops sound reflection and reverberations in a room — they work in harmony and enhance the modern, visual impact of open-plan working. The real result of optimal sound quality? A distraction-free environment to improve creativity, focus, satisfaction and workplace productivity. 2. Improve the Look of Your Office Who wants to be described as an employer who’s just a 9-to-5? What your employees and visitors think about you has a lasting impact on your brand. In a place where employees can spend over 40 hrs a week, a visually appealing workplace provides them with a comfortable, stimulating, productive and ultimately moral-boosting workplace. The look of workspaces speaks volumes about your business to staff and customers alike. Leave them with the right impression by designing a workspace that not only looks and feels amazing, but is a place they enjoy being every day. From reception areas, conference rooms, lounges, to work areas, Dbsorb provides an acoustic solution to improve every location. Strengthen your physical brand. Whether transforming or modernising the look of your office, embracing a sense of space, or lush sound control: Acoustics can be made to enhance your brand. Incorporate your corporate colours and designs, in a way that communicates your brand, and leave people with a lasting perception of who you and your values are. 3. Transform your Conference Room Your business conference room is where your most important meetings take place. Conference rooms are designed to look sleek and modern, but this often leads to a terrible acoustic environment. Small rooms with hard walls reflect every sound, creating an echo-chamber effect. This is not ideal when you are presenting to your team or potential clients. If your business requires video conferences when dealing with clients, a conference room with good acoustics is crucial. You don’t want the people on the other end of the call hearing sound reflections and echoes every time someone speaks. Bad acoustics can distract the speaker and prevent their message from being heard. This is a total turn off to potential clients and makes for unproductive team meetings. Conference room acoustic treatment will transform your meeting space. Acoustic wall and ceiling panels will absorb and control the sound of your conference room. Acoustic panels also help to maintain privacy by preventing sounds from bouncing from room to room. So, the discussions of private meetings held in your conference room will not leak out to the rest of your office. 4. Impress Clients and Customers First impressions of your business are created the moment your clients or customers step through the door. A dull, boring room will do nothing to benefit the image of your business. But, by creating that ‘wow-factor’ you automatically increase the likelihood of a client working with you or a customer purchasing the product/service that you offer. That’s the beauty of acoustic panels in your workspace. At dbsorb, our innovative acoustic solutions will not only improve the acoustic control of a room but also give your space a fresh, modern look. 5. Get Acoustic Panels Designed Specifically for Your Workspace With over two decades of knowledge and experience in acoustics, the team at dbsorb will create acoustic solutions that are purposely built for your workplace. At no cost to you, dbsorb will have someone assess your workspace, and consult you on your acoustic solution options. Every project that we undertake is unique, we will manufacture a solution that works for you and your business with our tailored-to-location designs. Book your free consultation with the acoustic experts today! If you choose to transform the acoustics in your workspace, we pride ourselves on installing acoustic panels with minimal disruptions to your business. We manufacture our acoustic solutions in house and have them prepared well before installation, this ensures your space is ready for immediate use after installation.
What’s the Difference between Acoustic Treatment and Soundproofing?
Like most people, you may have thought these two terms are much the same. But there are major differences in soundproofing and acoustic treatment. Soundproofing is preventing sound from coming in and out of a specific space. While acoustic treatment is creating solutions to control or reduce echoes and sound reverberations in a room. In this article, we will discuss the major differences between soundproofing and acoustic treatment for buildings, and dive into the different solutions for both. But to understand these topics fully, it is essential to know the different routes in which sound travels. We have classified these below: Air: Sound is a type of energy generated by vibrations. These vibrations cause sound waves that are able to travel through different mediums. Air is the easiest medium for sound waves to travel through as there is little resistance from molecules. Acoustic solutions can control the way sound travels through the air in a specific space. Solid: Sound vibrations can also travel through solid structures. Vibrations cause molecules in a solid foundation to transmit the sound energy until the energy runs out. Low-frequency sounds, like bass from speakers, lose less energy when traveling through solids, which is why soundproofing is needed. Acoustic Treatment Acoustic treatment is the process of improving the sound properties of a room to create clarity. When a space undergoes acoustic treatment, it is to control the echoes or reverberations of sound in that space. Usually, the process is intended to reduce these sound characteristics, but in some cases, like a performance hall, it is to enhance the acoustics. Sound characteristics can be divided into three parts. First is Reflection, where sound bounces off a surface and changes its direction. Second is Reverberation, an accumulation of sounds, where different reflections come together at once, causing poor sound quality or an echo – not ideal for a workspace or business. Lastly, there is Resonance, this is the annoying background noise that creates a far from optimal work environment. At dbsorb we use two main processes to improve the acoustics in a room. These are: Absorption: Preventing unwanted reflections from bouncing back into a certain space. These reflections if properly absorbed, improve the acoustics in the treated area.Diffusion: This method involves scattering the unruly sound reflections into different directions of the room. This reduces the negative effect the reflections might have had. The materials used for diffusion are usually rigid and thick with different patterns. Acoustic Solutions For Your Home or Office Your home or office is a space that people should enjoy being in. At work, you want your employees to be focused and productive. At home you want people to relax and converse with ease. Acoustic solutions can make that a reality. By reducing the naturally occurring sound reverberations in your home or workspace, your space will be more enjoyable for those in it. But how can you tell if you need acoustic solutions? There are two simple options to test your home of office acoustics: 1. Evaluate the Room Yourself A good way to do this yourself is to clap your hands in the specific room and listen to the reverberation. You will usually hear one of two things. Bad acoustics; a harsh metallic sound which usually occurs in small rooms. Or, Good Acoustics; a pleasant sound which occurs in rooms with high walls and high diffusive capacity. 2. Get a Free Acoustic Audit and Consultation If you would prefer to get professional advice on the acoustics of your space. Let the expert team at dbsorb come out and give you a free consultation. We will develop an acoustic solution that is tailor-made to your needs and recommend the acoustic material needed for the best results. If you find your home or office will benefit from acoustic treatment, dbsorb can design high-performing acoustic materials that are unique to your space. We focus on three main elements when improving the acoustics of a room: Acoustic Panels Acoustic Ceiling Tiles Bass Traps Acoustic Panels Acoustic panels are a great way to absorb sound in a space without sacrificing the design or style. Acoustic panels can be used on walls, ceilings, or as separators between spaces. No longer are acoustic panels clunky and old-fashioned looking. They can completely change a space, making it look more modern while inspiring creativity and improving the acoustics. Our acoustic panels are designed and engineered with your space in mind. Each project is unique, so our panels come in all shapes, sizes, and designs. Dbsorb’s acoustic solutions will revolutionize the sound of a room without ruining the style. Acoustic Ceiling Tiles If you have a smaller area that needs sound control, like a meeting space, or reception area, acoustic ceiling tiles could be the solution you are after. With a range of shapes, colours, and styles, you can customize your ceiling or wall, and have sound control right where you need it. Tiles provide you with a little more customization than acoustic panels and bass traps. You can even stay on brand and have your business colours or logo printed on them. Bass traps These are the main elements for acoustic treatments. They are often referred to as broadband absorbers and can absorb sounds at most frequency levels. In smaller rooms where there is a problem of low frequency, we advise clients on the best bass traps for their needs. Suggestions for Soundproofing How can you prevent sound from exiting a space and disturbing those around it? And how can you keep sound out of a certain space to prevent distraction or poor sound quality? We have five suggestions for soundproofing a space: Adding Mass to the structure of the room Decoupling Damping Sound Absorption Filling Air Gaps Adding Mass to the Structure of the Room A great way to prevent inward and outbound noise is by adding mass to the walls of the room. This converts the sound energy to heat. It prevents the wall from vibrating despite the high amount of sound energy it is receiving, keeping the sound in. A method used to determine the effectiveness of materials at soundproofing is called the ‘Sound Transmission Class’. According to this classification, harder materials have a higher STC, while softer materials have a lower STC. From this classification, we can assess that an STC of: 20-30 is poorly soundproofed 30-40 is average for soundproofing 40-50 is good for soundproofing Decoupling One way to completely soundproof your room is to decouple it. To do this, you need to separate the structure to prevent sound from crossing to other parts of the structure and escaping. Methods of decoupling which could be used: Building insulating layers to form a floating wall. Building a floating floor with the use of rubber insulators. Building double walls to help block the sound. Damping This is a method similar to adding mass. This method removes the energy from the sound waves and converts it into heat. This involves using damping material between two rigid surfaces and creating a sound barrier that could be added to different areas of the room. Sound Absorption In this method, the walls of the structure are covered with a material that absorbs sound. This ultimately reduces the level of sound that passes through the structure. Filling Air Gaps This is an important way to prevent noise from entering and leaving your room. The use of acoustic caulks and foam gaskets help to seal up the spaces in the room increasing the amount of insulation and reducing noise. Contact the Team at dbsorb Today Our team is available to examine your space and develop a unique acoustic solution or soundproofing method that aligns with your specifications. We will provide acoustic or soundproofing materials that are fast and easy to install, and add style to your space.
Benefits of Installing Acoustic Panels in Your Home
It can be overwhelming to come home after a long day of work to meet a noisy environment. But with an effective noise control system, you’ll be able to keep your home peaceful and quiet. Thanks to dbsorbs acoustic panels, you can enhance your home’s design while keeping it peaceful. Acoustic panels have many benefits, and you’ll learn all about them in the sections below. What are Acoustic Panels? Acoustic panels are placed on ceilings or walls to help absorb sound and enhance its properties. These panels are good for controlling sounds, eliminating echoes, and reducing ambient noise in a room. These sound-absorbing panels can be cut into different shapes and sizes. This means that they can be customised to suit the room’s style and design. Unlike bass traps, acoustic wall panels handle the mid and high frequencies inside a room. If you’re looking to reduce the resonance in a room, acoustic panels will help with that. However, these panels only absorb sound and cannot be used for soundproofing. They aim to control the residual sound in a given space. Excellent at improving sound quality, acoustic panels are often used to treat living space acoustics, recording studio acoustics, restaurant acoustics, home theater acoustics, and home offices. Properly installed acoustic ceiling panels can absorb or diffuse sound right from the first reflection point. Effective acoustic panels require minimal materials and are a fantastic addition to the design of a room. Improving the acoustics will help keep the atmosphere in your home peaceful and quiet. Good acoustics means fewer distractions and a more serene home environment. Benefits of Installing Acoustic Panels in Your Home Increased Privacy More Comfort Better Entertainment 1. Increased Privacy Sound can bounce around hard surfaces within your room, but acoustic wall panels will keep it from escaping. Good acoustics can help you stop others from listening in on your personal conversations. You’ll no longer worry about whether your guests, roommates, or kids can hear you. Installing acoustic panels on your ceiling and walls will result in increased privacy. Acoustic panels absorb and control echoes from conversations, music, or television sound. This means you can have undisturbed conversations in your home and watch your favourite TV shows in peace. 2. Better Entertainment If you are looking for cost-efficient ways to up the quality of your home’s sound system, look no further than installing acoustic panels. With good acoustic treatment, in combination with other solutions such as bass traps, you can improve the quality of your sound system and home speakers. Alongside absorbing sound and reducing noise, some acoustic panels also diffuse sound thanks to designing features like beveled edges, bends and fins. However, you must be careful as your room can sound uncomfortably dead when it has excess sound absorption. For your room to sound natural and clear, the panels must break up and redirect sound effectively. 3. More Comfort Although you may not notice this benefit easily, acoustic wall panels can make your home more comfortable. Noise pollution and background sound can be very irritating, eating away your peace and quiet. You may end up feeling unnerved and irritated due to excess sound hitting your ears. Installing sound-absorbing panels in your home can be easy, but you must do it properly if you want to enjoy a more comfortable home. Choosing the Right Acoustic Panels for Your Needs There are certain things you must check while choosing the right acoustic panels for your needs, and they include: Acoustic Performance (NRC) Before choosing the acoustic panels for your needs, you should check its Sound Absorption Coefficient (SAC), otherwise known as Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC). This rating will help you know how effective the material we will be in absorbing sound. If the rating is 0.00, it means that the material is perfectly reflective. On the other hand, the material is perfectly absorptive if it reads 1.00. It is important to know that a NRC rating between the range of 0.65 and 1.00 is ideal. This rating depends on the percentage of frequencies the material can control. However, the best acoustic ceiling panels, including the Ready-Clip acoustic panels that we use have a NRC rating of at least 0.65. Physical Characteristics While choosing the right acoustic panels for your needs, you should check physical characteristics like density, size, and thickness. Generally thicker and denser perform better, also the size and density of the panels will affect their ease of installation. It won’t be easy to install big and heavy material in tight corners. So you must consider where you intend to install the panels before purchasing them. Appearance While choosing the most effective acoustic panels to suit your needs, it is wise to go for one that’s style and color match your room. Our team at dbsorb can design and customize acoustic panels to perfectly match any space. Value You can get sound-absorbing panels at different prices. The price largely depends on the size, quality of the panel, the number of panels in the pack, and more. At dbsorb we can find acoustic solutions to suit any budget, and we will never compromise on our high standard of quality. Where to get Acoustic Panels Dbsorb is a top designer, manufacturer, and installer of acoustic panels in New Zealand. Contact us for any of your acoustic needs. We are ready to assess your living space to provide you with the best acoustic options. We will find the right acoustic panel for your residential space. Our Process: Acoustic Audit and Consultation Decide on the perfect materials for your Acoustic Panels. We Design and Manufacture your Acoustic Panels Install your Acoustic Panels if required. Make dbsorb your first choice when looking for Acoustic Solutions in New Zealand. Our simple process will revolutionize the look, feel, and sound of your home. Contact us by phone or email today to discuss.
How to Improve Acoustics in Residential Design : A Guide for Architects and Designers
Soundproofing your house is a great way to gain peace and quiet, especially when you live in a noisy environment. A soundproofed room keeps out household noise and restores sound clarity to your home. To effectively block out sound, you’ll have to plug sound leaks, absorb sounds, and reduce vibrations. Here is what you should know about soundproofing your room. What is Soundproofing? Soundproofing is the process of removing or reducing unwanted noise from your home, workplace, studio, or any other space. Homes located in noisy areas need more soundproofing than those in quiet neighborhoods. You can create a soundproof building or room in many different ways. Firstly, you must figure out how much sound needs to be blocked out, and then decide on the right soundproofing materials. People soundproof their houses for various reasons. For instance, if you have a home music studio or theatre then soundproofing is essential to prevent sound from escaping and to improve the clarity of the sound inside your space. Deciding on the soundproofing material most suited to your needs will largely depend on the type of noise you wish to stop. Sound-absorbing panels are very useful for dealing with quieter sounds, but if you want to control more penetrating noise, you’ll have to opt for more drastic measures. For instance, you can use stud walls to create a room within your room. Soundproofing your walls is a great start to control the sound of an area, but to completely soundproof your space, your ceilings and floors need to be sealed also. Why you Need to Soundproof Your House Privacy Enhance Quality of Life Home Comfort Privacy You wouldn’t want your neighbors listening in on your private conversations. So, you must take measures to prevent voice leaks in your home. Soundproofing is an excellent way to ensure that your private conversations remain private. Soundproofing allows you to control airborne noise coming into or going out of your house. So, no matter where the noise is coming from, you’ll be able to relax and rest in your soundproofed home. Soundproofing the rooms in your home enhances privacy and lets you perform your day-to-day activities without disturbing your family members, neighbours, or guests. It also a good way to add more insulating value to your home. Enhance Quality of Life High noise levels can impair human cognitive functions like problem-solving capabilities, the ability to recall things, and think clearly. When you’re always exposed to sound, it can negatively impact your ability to learn, read, and understand. Sound-absorbing panels will help enhance the quality of your life and improve your sleep quality. Recurring noises like background noise can be frustrating and affect the quality of your life. These annoying noises can result in anger, higher stress levels, and exhaustion. Learning in noisy environments can lower cognitive ability in children. So, installing acoustic foams to reduce noise where your children learn and play will greatly benefit them. Noise also causes sleep disturbance, which can have a range of health complications down the line. It will also affect your alertness and performance. Soundproofing your home is a great way to prevent all of these and improve the quality of your life. Home Comfort You must soundproof your home if you want to enjoy a comfortable home where noise levels are reduced to the barest minimum. Suppose you want to watch your best TV show, or your favorite team is playing. But the problem is that your kids are sleeping, and you don’t want to wake them. Installing sound-absorbing panels in your home ensures that your kids will be undisturbed while you enjoy your favorite movie or TV program. Not only will you have control over the sound within your home, but you’ll also prevent unwanted noise from entering from outside. DIY Soundproofing 1. Floor Treatments Sound can bounce off hard surfaces like walls and floors. Hard floors like tile, wood, or laminate enable noise in your home. So, if you want to reduce noise, laying a rug on the floor can absorb sound reverberations. The thickness of the rug matters, the thicker the rug, the more sound it tends to absorb. You can also improve the soundproofing effectiveness of your rug by adding an extra thick pad underneath it. 2. Window Treatments If you want to block out noise from getting into your home, you must work on your windows. Windows, especially the old ones, are usually ineffective when it comes to blocking out noise. However, you can soundproof your house by installing double glazed windows or thick curtains. Hire an Expert Dbsorb offers the best solutions when it comes to soundproofing. Founded by Alex and Adam, who have two decades of experience in the world of acoustics and soundproofing. We are leading experts in design, product development, and engineering and ready to create an acoustic solution that works for you. We know how to soundproof a room and will even give your space a soundproofing audit and consultation free of charge! Just let us know when suits you. Get in touch with us to find out how we can transform your space into a beautiful, soundproofed environment. Regardless of your building type or the size of your project, we use a simple but effective four-stage process to design the perfect soundproofing solution for your needs. Our process: Free Soundproofing Audit and Consultation Decide on the perfect Soundproofing Materials for your needs. We Design and Manufacture your Sound-absorbing panels. Install your Soundproofing Solution
